Who’s Next: Syracuse Basketball’s Summer Recruiting Checklist

Here are the targets to watch for as the Orange heat up recruiting this summer.

So far Orange Nation’s summer has been filled with football recruiting news, but not to be left behind basketball is quickly catching up in the rear view mirror. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the players who could potentially be playing in the Dome in 2012-’13.

Dajuan Coleman, 6-9 (C) Jamesville Dewitt High

Consensus 5-star recruit. Not related to former Syracuse great Derrick Coleman, but is built to dominate just like him. This powerful center has huge potential and is highly coveted by several of the leading programs in the nation. Topping his list, however, sits Syracuse and Kentucky. In fact, Wildcats coach John Calipari paid a personal visit to Coleman following their NCAA Tournament win over West Virginia. When Coleman talked to The Fizz back in April,he emphasized his long relationship with Jim Boeheim and the coaching staff. He already has a well-developed low post game and can defend when he wants to. Several other top 25 schools are on to Coleman as well including Louisville, North Carolina, UConn and Texas. Despite the whispers about his hustle, with the question marks at center for the Orange, Coleman is a very key prospect

Ricardo Ledo, 6-6 (SG) Notre Dame Prep, MA

Consensus 5-Star Recruit.This shooting guard has an elite ability to score and has great size for his position. He had committed to Providence, but with the coaching turmoil he has decommitted and is back open to several schools including the Orange. There will be an opening at the guard spot with Scoop Jardine graduating and Ledo is a perfect candidate to fill the void. He hasn’t made any visits yet and has a pretty long list, but he would be a huge get for ‘Cuse. Many believe he is the best scoring guard in the class and the picture will become clearer once he makes a few visits.

Amile Jefferson, 6-7 (PF) Friends Central School: Philadelphia, PA

Consensus 4-5 Star Recruit. A very smooth player who can run the floor at high speed, perfect for the uptempo style of the Orange. Syracuse hasn’t offered him a scholarship, but several other schools including Pitt and Villanova from the Big East reportedly have. Forward will be a need for the Orange with Kris Joseph on the way out and a lack of depth behind him. Jefferson does need some work on his ball-handling, but any time Syracuse has a chance to steal a top prospect from other Big East schools it’s an extra bonus.

Andre Drummond, 6-11 (C) St. Thomas More, CT

Consensus Top 3 Recruit. Drummond is likely staying in-state and headed to UConn, but is worth a mention because of his freakish athleticism. He has unbelievable finishing ability around the rim and the potential to simply dominate games. Syracuse has offered him already and even the slightest possibility of stealing him from the Huskies is tantalizing.

Jerami Grant, 6-7 (SF) Dematha Catholic, MD

Consensus 4-Star Recruit. Agreat rebounder, which would be huge for the Orange who often struggle to board from the wing position. Scouts also think he can develop a solid mid-range game, which would be the perfect compliment to his glass work. He also has excellent basketball roots, both his father and uncle played in the NBA. Multiple Big East schools are after him including Notre Dame and Georgetown leaving plenty of incentive for Syracuse to make a strong move. The Orange hasn’t offered him yet, but don’t be surprised if it does in the near future.

Ricardo Gathers, 6-6 (SF) Riverside Academy, LA

Consensus 4-Star Recruit. According to scouts and his videos, athletically he completely dominates the competition. He already has a great post game, is powerful down low and has a decent jump shot. Syracuse has already offered him a scholarship despite being on the opposite side of the country. He could similarly fill the gap that will be left for an offensive forward and, with his athleticism, he is the type of player Boeheim loves. Several West Coast schools are in on him along with are some familiar Big East schools such as UConn and St. John’s.

As the summer wears on the basketball recruiting trail will continue to heat up and The Fizz will have the latest every step of the way.

21 Comments on this Post

Iain

Coleman is the only big time recruit I could see picking Syracuse this year. From what I hear Ledo is really high on UK which isn’t a surprise considering the way Cal utilizes scoring guards within his Dribble-Drive system. If Drummond doesn’t end up going pro then I think he will most likely stay in state with UConn, and think Amile Jefferson will be the one to roundout Nova’s dynamite class.

Jameson44

Hey fizz, if we miss out on these recruits and land a few 3 star guys are you gonna write 10 articles about how cuse missed out on the “elite recruit” and cuse fans are a bunch of pom pom waivers because some people are excited about the guys we did get?

kevin

I think theres really a good chance of landing coleman and jefferson. I know the coaching staff is really big on jefferson and with all the philly talent at SU theres a good chance. I think if coleman commits there would be a better chance of getting ledo since they have played very well together up in albany. with those three alone that would be by far the best class in the country.

George

Marty

Thanks, George. DA, please teach these college kids about fact-checking for accuracy. What an embarrassing mistake-California to SU pipeline, they did not even check it and went with LA as Los Angeles and not Louisiana. They did not even get the name of his high school right. Makes the credibility of this site suspect.

George

I’ll give them a break on the Reserve Christian thing. Several of the big boys “expert recruiting sites” are still using his 9th grade info too. Reserve Christian folded after his 9th grade year. He, his coach, and several of his teammates moved to Riverside.

marty

Guys thanks for the heads up. It has been changed. Oversight by me, I didn’t catch it either. Gathers’ old Reserve Christian is now defunct. From NOLAsports.com: “It was Gathers’ third state title and third time to be chosen as a championship game MVP dating to his freshman year at now-defunct Reserve Christian.” George, thanks for catching it. Marty, feel free to fact check everything you read and email me directly: [email protected].

Alex Plavin

Matt

No chance Ledo comes here, and I don’t think SU wants him. Scoop being gone has very little to do with leaving “space” in the backcourt. It’s still very deep. What Ledo would be good for is a wing; mentioning that a departing point guard opens a spot for him is missing on him. I think they have a great shot at Grant. MCW absolutely owned him at an event in WV this winter. But he is a great athlete. Don’t see him being a big time rebounder; he’s incredibly skinny right now. But he fits in behind KJ leaving and Southerland/Fair.

kevin

? think we have a better shot at ledo then coleman. him and MCW are like great friends. coleman has been full of it for a long time, he claims that he has been a fan of su all his life and that his family is most important(who is from syracuse) but if that were the case he would of commited in 8th grade when they started recruiting him. I think theres somthing shady going on with these players and kentucky. For one if you look at the lebron james skills academy rosters not one of the recruits are on syracuse and look at whos on kentucky- dajuan coleman, ledo, amile jefferson. If dajuan choses syracuse after all he has said about his “family over everything” then there has gotta be somthing going on behind the scenes or he would become a local hero to hated all over the east coast.

tony

Great post! I am actually getting ready to across this information, is very helpful my friend. Also great blog here with all of the valuable information you have. Keep up the good work you are doing here.